less than a fifth

USAGE SUMMARY

"less than a fifth" is a correct and usable expression in written English.
You can use it to describe a number (or other value) that is lower than 1/5. For example, "We performed less than a fifth of the work necessary in the allotted time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Less than a fifth of Dubai's 1.5m people are local.

The Economist

Today, by some measures, it's less than a fifth.

The Guardian

Consequently, less than a fifth of 44 referendums that have been attempted since 1901 have passed.

The Economist

Its ten largest firms contribute less than a fifth of the value of its stockmarket.

The Economist

New Melones Lake, the state's fourth-largest reservoir, is less than a fifth full.

The Economist

Less than a fifth of the electorate bothered to turn out to vote.

The Economist

That's barely a quarter of Avis's expected margin and less than a fifth of Hertz's.

The New York Times

Mr Murkowski came third in the primary, with less than a fifth of the vote.

The Economist

The proportion who rent privately has climbed from less than a fifth to almost half.

The Economist

It has now, incorrectly, become conventional wisdom that less than a fifth of charter schools succeed.

The New York Times

So far they have pulled less than a fifth of their money out of banks.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer numerals over spelling out numbers when the fraction is used in statistical or data-driven contexts for improved clarity. For example, "Less than 1/5 of participants reported side effects" is preferable to "Less than one fifth of participants reported side effects".

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly stating what the "fifth" refers to. For example, instead of saying "The project is less than a fifth complete", specify "Less than a fifth of the project's total budget has been spent" to provide context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "less than a fifth" functions as a quantifier or modifier used to describe a proportion or quantity that is smaller than one-fifth of a whole. As Ludwig AI states, it correctly describes a number (or other value) that is lower than 1/5. For example, "We performed less than a fifth of the work necessary in the allotted time."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "less than a fifth" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that a quantity is smaller than one-fifth of a whole. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a usable expression in written English. With frequent use in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, it serves to convey an approximate quantity or proportion. Alternatives like "under one-fifth" or "below a fifth" offer similar meanings. When using the phrase, ensure the context is clear about what the fifth is in reference to. Pay attention to choosing numerals vs spelling numbers for different applications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lower than one-fifth

Simple substitution of "less" with "lower".

under one-fifth

Uses a different preposition to indicate a quantity below the specified fraction.

below a fifth

Emphasizes the quantity being lower than the specified fraction.

slightly below a fifth

Indicates the amount is close to the specified fraction but still lower.

not reaching one-fifth

Expresses that the quantity does not achieve the specified fraction.

a fraction smaller than a fifth

Highlights that the portion is smaller, using a general term.

hardly a fifth

Emphasizes the smallness of the proportion.

under 20 percent

Converts the fraction to a percentage for easier comprehension.

a small fraction of

Implies that the amount is very small compared to the whole.

a minority of

Generalizes the amount to suggest a small portion without specifying the exact fraction.

FAQs

How can I use "less than a fifth" in a sentence?

Use "less than a fifth" to indicate a quantity or proportion that is smaller than one-fifth of a whole. For example, "Less than a fifth of the city's population attended the event."

What are some alternatives to saying "less than a fifth"?

You can use phrases like "under one-fifth", "below a fifth", or "a small fraction of" as alternatives to "less than a fifth", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more accurate to say "less than a fifth" or "under 20 percent"?

Both "less than a fifth" and "under 20 percent" are accurate, as they express the same proportion. However, "under 20 percent" might be more readily understood in some contexts, particularly when discussing statistics or numerical data.

What is the difference between "less than a fifth" and "almost a fifth"?

"Less than a fifth" means that the quantity is smaller than one-fifth. "Almost a fifth" implies that the quantity is close to, but still slightly below, one-fifth. The key difference is that "almost a fifth" suggests nearness, while "less than a fifth" simply indicates a smaller amount.